The Rock Album Survivor Reviews Thread

[JGuy Grungeman]

Hopefully. Anyway, Onto Deceit now.

Upon the first note, I noticed that this album would follow a similar kind of complexity to the first album, but have a different sense of experimentation. The intro has a feel similar to Remain in Light, but with a less excited tone. Sadly, the constant "sleeps" remaind me of that tragic musical number from Sharkboy and Lavagirl. I'm hoping the album carries the same effect the last album had on me concerning how long it felt like rather than how long the album was. "Paper Hats" was unlike anything from the debut. I don't know what had come across them to create a totally different album, especially when their own debut got such so many good ratings. What lead them to take the Talking Heads route? What lead from a bunch of noise to this well thoughtout/more radio-friendly piece of post-punk experimentation? Well, by "Triumph" I understood I actually was in for a similar album. The way they change pace and shift feels is just like TH. To be honest, I feel this is more deserving in the experimental list. But we already have their debut which is a good contender in terms of experimentation. S.P.Q.R. was the track that practically ensured its post-punk status. It had the same production techniques and sound as the post-punk I've been listening to, even if it doesn't have the same kind of emotion. Still, I find it the most enjkoyable track so far. I can't really say the same about Cenotaph, tho. It seemed to stray away from experimentation, and it didn't have a lot of grip to it. Shrinkwrap and Radio Plague continued a little more with experimentation, but still didn't have the same grip. Makeshift Swahili had a more intense feel to it, one that had a slight touch of goofiness due to the experimentation that panned well. The raspy vocals help. Independence had a somewhat foreign feel, a trait I like. However, I don't think they did a very good job turning the Declaration of Independence into a musical number, vocally. "A New Kind of Water" seemed to be an amalgam of everything good the alum already had to offer, making it possibly the best track on it. The final track is "Hi Baku Shyo," which starts out with an acoustic guitar and some weird buzzing and many other strange sounds which don't really go together but form a fairly interestring collage.

Overall, this album is a definite improvement over the debut. But I can't say it's a "great" album. It seems to me some of the same flaws from the 1st come back. I don't really think This Heat's one of the best bands in the world at this point.

79. Voting it off due to the rating.

[JGuy Grungeman]

Bridge Over Troubled Water by Simon and Garfunkel



Style: Folk Rock, Folk Pop
Release: 1970
Length: 37 min.
Round: Folk Rock

Simon and Garfunkel, famous for their four studio albums and The Graduate soundtrack, set out to becomke the greatest pop duo ever. For a whole album, they were. They had reached their goal. Simon and Garfunkel's “Bridge Over Troubled Water” was the highest-selling album in the world for a short time, and it has some of the most amazing songs on the planet. Sadly, the two did not have enough time to live that out because they broke up soon after.

I played the album for the first time in a year. The opening title track came on. For a moment, I felt the soul of the great composer of psalms, David. The song is the most touching, beautiful... I can't hope to describe the beauty of this song other than this: It's the greatest song I have ever heard recorded. We then take a five second breather from the incredible aura and comfort of the greatest opener in the world and enter “El Condor Pasa,” where a wondrous guitar instrumental carries us into a tune of chirping flutes like an orchestra of birds in the morning and Simon and Garfunkel lead them with an amazing combination of their vocals. As that opera of folk sadly ended, we head into a total shift in emotional and musical direction as Simon and Garfunkel clap and stomp their way through “Cecilia,” an innocent and amazing pop rock story of a girl of the same name. I often hear about the best three song chain on an album, I think this was it. And now we enter “Keep the Customer Satisfied,” one a bit heavier on production than the l;ast two tracks. It doesn't reach the same quality as the last three songs which broke the five star limit, but it's a very fun and eccentric addition that continues the tone of Cecilia very successfully. Next is “So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright,” which is the slowest song the album has to offer this far in. So sad. It carries the sadness of Simon's break-up with Art. Next is the Boxer, which is calm and collective. But the horns after the first verse make it more energetic, as if it was combining the tones of the previous tracks into one. The tone gets more relatable and emotional over time, even as at just ends with a simple acoustic solo. A more hyperactive and childish solo starts Baby Driver. Although not amazing, it's a whole lot of fun, and practically nostalgic as it reminisces childish kiddie songs you might know. It brings you to your youth. “The Only Living Boy in New York” brings in various influences to create something new. It's an amalgam of emotionsd all used for the purpose of song. “Why7 Don't You Write Me” has a slight country feel, one that's filler but great filler. It seems a little clunky in comparison to the rest. Still, it manages to excite the listener, thus being a good success. Next is a live cover of “bye Bye Love,” possibly one of the more notable versions of the song as their vocals blend perfectly. However, the clapping of the audience drowns it out a little. Thankfully, it doesn't drown out the vocals. “Song for the Asking” is a perfect, stunning shred of hope for the duo's reconciliation and reunion.

What kind of album is this that it envokes emotions so well? And to be combined with one of the most brilliant lyricists already is just so phenomenal. And the different directions they tqake with different songs never really change the flow of the album. It's nothing short of brilliant. Bridge Over Troubled Water is not just some other great folk album: it is a work of art greater than the Mona Lisa. And I think any music buff should listen to it a few times in their life.

100. My top decision for the Folk Rock round.

[Zhanteimi]

Originally Posted by JGuy Grungeman

Bridge Over Troubled Water is not just some other great folk album: it is a work of art greater than the Mona Lisa.

What does this even mean? The two are incomparable.

[JGuy Grungeman]

It's a metaphor. I'm saying it's one of the greatest artistic creations ever. I used a famous "piece of art" for the metaphor.

[Zhanteimi]

So, Bridge is a greater work of art to music lovers than the Mona Lisa is to museum goers?

[JGuy Grungeman]

For me, it's much better than most things on the planet.

[JGuy Grungeman]

Tango in the Night by Fleetwood Mac



Style: Soft Rock, Pop Rock
Release: 1987
Length: 44 min.
Round: Soft Rock

The best Fleetwood Mac albums are generally considered to be Rumours, 1975, and Tusk. However, real fans wouldn't pass up Tango in the Night, a surefire addition to their catalogue, and their most underrated. It should be a classic album among classic albums, because it has a great amount of classic tunes by the band.

Upon the first note, “Big Love” made me aware that this would be one of Fleetwood Mac's underrated classics. It's sense of pop and dancable rhythm is carried into the mysterious “Seven Wonders,” a classic among classics. However, “Everywhere” is where the real fun begins. The amazing, soothing song of utter romance. “Caroline,” the fourth track, is like a jungle beat with a mystic history, carried by Fleetwood Mac's aura and Lindsay Buckingham's unique voice. So mystic. This mysticism is carried on into the next fantastic tune, the title track called “Tango in the Night.” A perfect name for this beautiful melody. It starts with a very atmospheric intro, and goes on into a more complex, almost experimental tune akin to “Tusk.” The best track here. Now I spoke plenty about mysticism in this album, but I didn't know there would be a track called “Mystified.” And personally, I was a bit mystified upon playing it. I mean, with this atmospheric production, how is Christine McVie's voice not mystifying? Next comes another classic, “Little Lies.” Hilary Duff did a pretty cheap cover of this. I mean, with the sweet melody, the familiar Fleetwood sound, and all three vocalist working together, who can blame people for loving this tune? Who can blame me for saying this song is nearly impossible to maker a better cover of? Next comes “Family Man,” a jumpier tune that doesn't quite live up to the quality of the other tunes, but is still worth it for some cool guitar and Lindsay's voice. I mean, Fleetwood Mac is a band that knows how to make any song good. “Welcome to the Room... Sara” is next. Stevie carries it this time, like she did in “Sara.” Quite romantic, quite pretty, this is another underrated classic among classics. The next track is “Isn't it Midnight?” With a title like that, I expected something very soft. Nope. I got a hard rocking tune of fast beats. I expected Lindsay to take this. Nope. It was McVie. I remember thinking she'd be the last person to take it. Nope. She was the first. Overall, she does a great job making her voice fit the song by doing just what she would always do. For a total shift in pace, “When I See You Again” as sung by Nicks came. It was a soft, very folksy kind of tune. Filler, but fine. The album ends with “You and I, Part 2.” The first part's a B-Side. The aura and fashion of the song is a perfect ending to Fleetwood Mac's album, carrying the same feel that fans love while carrying plenty of the atmosphere that this album has.

In conclusion, Tango in the Night is an underrated classic that should be up there with Tusk, above Tusk. The album is one of the best of 1987, and it's albums like this why I love '87.

95/100. This is the first album from the soft rock list I've heard, but there's a cgood chance this'll be on top.

[Ol’ Qwerty Bastard]

Already said this, but yeah, totally awesome album. It was the first thing I heard from the band because my Dad owns it on CD and as a child I would listen to it every chance I got.

[JGuy Grungeman]

Rumours is still by far the best, but there's no way anyone should neglect this.

[Frownland]

S&G are pretty awesome, but I think that their live albums are so much better than their studio work (which is also pretty great). Songs like The Boxer that to me sound a bit overproduced work a lot better in that context. Listen to The Concert in Central Park if you haven't already.